Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-06-10
THE IRISH PIPERs.
A TREAT IN THE WAY OF AN EVEN
ING OF IRISH MUSIC.

Weird and Fascinating Strains Played
by Master Hand-On1y Few Old
Men Left of the Old Fashioned
Pipers.
"Have you ever heard the Irish bagpipes?"
81 don't know. They are the same as the
Scotch pipes, are they not?"
Decidedly not. But if you want real
treat in the way of an evening of Irish
music played by an Irishman upon the Irish
pipes, meet me this evening at P. B. Egan's
Cornucopia. John Egan, who is probably
the greatest of living Irish bagpipers, will be
there"
The speaker was cultured Irish gentle
man, himself fine musician, and an enthu-
siast in the music of his native land His
evening invitation wase accepted A nn1ahe,.
OF ladies and gentlemen had already assem-
bled upon invitation. The piper and his
pipes were likewise there. AS the reporter
and his friend entered the room the strident
tones OF the tuning pipes had already set the
sound waves in University place to dancing
in wild confusion.
The piper, with head thrown back and eyes
cast upward, began the "Conlin." AS the
weird and fascinating strains, played by
master hand, were heard, all yielded to the
influence. Heads, hands and feet responded
to the enticements of the air, while the glis-
tening eyes of the natives of Ireland attested
the charm which the national ssHsiiee has for
Erin Sons.
- SCOTCH AND IRISH PIPES
"There's history in that tune" said the
friend. "The 'Conlin' means the lad with
the flowing locks Henry VIII ordered the
locks of the Irish to be shorn After the edict
was carried out the Irish were called Crop
pies The air, of course, became greatly en-
deared to the oppressed of Ireland, and has
lived to this day, although the original words
have been LOST
While the "Conlin" was being played the
reporter had full opportunity to note the diff
ference between the Scotch and Irish pipes.
The shrill, piercing quality of the Scotch
pipes was lacking. In it's place was a more
pleasing musical tone. The Scotch pipes can
be heard further, but, unlike them, the Irish
pipes do not need distance to lend enchant-
ment to the sound.
Again the pipes were adjusted, and "The
Pretty Girl Milking the Cow was PLAYED
with all the attractiveness of skill and feel
Ing. kathleen Mavourneen" gains a new
mournfulness and sweetness when PLAYED
upon the pipes. "Gary Owen" and "Pat
Molloy" are themselves alone when the piper
pictures them to the ear. These and many
other airs the piper played, all of them joy
ously or tenderly reminiscent of boyhood's
happy days and scenes Then came the
"Blackbird."
"That's a treason song," said the friend,
"The Irish adherents of the Stuarts had song
set to that air. The words were reasonable.
from an English point of view and ere long
the air itself was called the same MANY an
Irishman has languished for weeks and mont his
in noisome prison for simply whistling or
humming that tune"
The music was ended. The green goose
with the long neck had collapsed into an empty
green silk bag. The dismembered pipes re-
posed in their case. The white haired piper
received the reporter and his congratulations
with a friendly greeting and smile.
Yes, sir; these pipes were made in this
country by William TAYLOR, of Philadelphia.
They cost 5000. Taylor is the only man here
who can tune the improved Irish pipes. 1t
cost me s65 to get these pipes tuned. Taylor
has made great improvements in the pipes.
He has increased their register and has pro-
vlded full supply of tones and semi tones.
Any kind of music can be played upon an in
strument like this. The pipes in use at home
are crude affairs, little suited to anything but
jig music"
THE PIPERS DYING OUT.
"Come, now," said the friend when the
twain were again in the open air. eve will
take this car and go up and see 7. f. Kerri-
gan, the other of the two great Irish pipers.
1t makes me sad to see how the pipers are dv-
ing out on the other side. The harp, which
was once the glory of Ireland, has long been
practically banished from all quarters save
the flag. And now the pipes are daily grow
ing fewer. When Twas a boy nearly every
village had its piper and the dance at the
cross roads by moonlight was the delight of
every lad and lassie's heart. Then, and for
centuries before, it was expected that the
piper's son would be a piper. All that is
changed now. The boys are off for America.
Only a few feeble old men are left, sole re-
minders of the devoted class who have piped
to victory the Irish armies of the past, who
in time of rebellion have been the trusty mes
sengers on dangerous errands, and who in the
days of peace and decadence have helped to
tighten somewhat the heavy burdens of the
Irish peasant"
"A short walk from the car took the two to
Kerrigan's Pleasant Hour where the piper
can be heard every night. "St. Patricks
Day" was carrying all the hearers with it
when the reporter entered. The piper sat
upon a raised platform at the end of a long
room, across which ran benches well filled
with lovers of the music of Ireland Young
and old were there, but the relish with which
the music was received fully compensated for
any disparity in age.
Mr. Kerrigan played a number of airs we'll
He is master of the pipes, and closely crowds
the Piper Egan, who has the advantage of
greater age and experience.
"My people have been pipers for more than
200 years" said Mr.. Kerrigan at an interval
of rest. "N1y father taught me the art. L
came to this country in 1868, and spent the
first five years in travelling. 1 have PLAYED
the pipes in all the leading cities and villages
of the land. Eleven years have been here,
playing almost nightly for my friends"
By request, Mr.. Kerrigan played ''The harp
that once through Tara's halls" The effect
was marvellous The feet which had lust been
attuned to rollicking jig We're silent The
hum of conversation ceased. The mournful
melody had acquired increased mournfulness
from the pipes. Some of the older heads
were bowed, while adown more than one
furrowed cheek the furtive tear traced it's
glistening course. One old gentleman, with
antique stovepipe hat, high collar and old
fashioned stock, shook his head at intervals
with vigor. 1t seemed mute protest against
the assault of some grizzly phantoms of the
past The music died away in its last sad
wall, but still that hoary head moved to and
fro.-New York Sun